Former Worcester Sharks‘ now Colorado Avalanche center Freddie Hamilton(12) faces off against one of the NHL‘s best, current Norfolk Admirals‘ Dave Steckel(26).
Tagged: Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#137 overall) defenseman Connor Carrick(25) is having himself an outstanding sophomore season on reassignment with affiliate Hershey Bears.
Even though he split time with the parent club and was injured for a good amount of time in his rookie year, his totals are still well beyond what he looked to post in 2013/2014.
In 40 AHL games he has 6 goals and 21 assists but is a lowly -13 rating on a good team. His play was good enough for a replacement nod at the All-Star Game.
The not huge 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner started with a few games in the NHL before being reassigned to the farm club but was recalled once he was ready to go again after recovering from an injury that sidelined him for a significant time.
Up with the big club he appeared in 34 games scoring his first goal and adding 5 assists but was a -9 plus/minus.
The 20-year old took a bit of an unlikely, quick route to turning pro. Upon being selected after his second season in the USHL he went on to only one campaign with Plymouth Whalers of the OHL before signing his 3-year entry level deal through 2016.
He’ll definitely have to continue to play excellent hockey in the minors and take his game to the next level when he gets back up with the big club to achieve what is projected of the deep draft selection.
17May
Hershey Bears‘ 9th year veteran Dane Byers(38) needs not worry where he’ll play next season as the team captain been invited back to continue his role in Chocolatetown.
Maybe a bit of a less than surprise move, as the 28-year old left wing signed his first minor league deal to join the much-storied AHL team last season.
The solid 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward has appeared in only 14 NHL games, 6 with New York Rangers (drafted 2nd round, 46th overall in 2004) and 8 with Columbus Blue Jackets.
He was able to pot one goal.
A proven leader on and off the ice, he plays a gutsy style that never shies away from delivering a crushing hit or fisticuffs if called upon to drop the gloves.
He had the most penalty minutes last season, 211 since his rookie campaign in 2006/2007.
No doubt what will be foremost on his mind will be returning the club to a postseason berth, which they missed for the first time in 8 straight years of appearances.
5th year defenseman David Kolomatis(39) has put up virtually identical numbers, almost 30 points in each of his AHL pro seasons but in this campaign, under a new one-year two-way deal with Washington Capitals, had a slight uptick in assists and overall points to post career bests.
In only 61 games on a veteran heavy Hershey Bears‘ roster he pocketed 7 goals and 23 assists, giving him his first 30.
Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft *#126 overall), he spent the first four years skating in the minor league system with Manchester Monarchs.
He was a fairly dependable staple on their blue line.
The not incredibly huge 5’11” 195 lbs. d-man has yet to be given his shot at NHL playing time and it’s a wonder if his current team of contract will keep him around as the 25-year old is unrestricted free agent.
If given a shot, he may well be one of these guys that quietly steps it up and fits right in.
Springfield Falcons‘ 7th year center Andrew Joudrey(24) is coming off his most productive, third season with the team.
He recorded new career highs with 20 assists and 32 points; good enough to tie his regular season mark for helpers and second most overall total.
The not exactly huge 5’11” 185 lbs. forward, previously noted for his assistant captain, leadership qualities more than his ability to connect on the score sheet, signed his first non-NHL contract, a one-year deal for 2013/2014.
He’s only ever skated a single game with Columbus Blue Jackets in the show.
He won an NCAA Championship with University Of Wisconsin in 2006 and a pair of back-to-back 2009 and 2010 Calder Cup Titles with Hershey Bears.
The 29-year old scored the overtime, winning goal in the first game of the AHL Eastern Conference Calder Cup Quarterfinals and could very well also be on his way to new postseason personal bests.
Where he will end up next is anyone’s guess, but he could easily signed for another couple seasons to stick where he is.
07Apr
Washington Capitals‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#142 overall) right wing Caleb Herbert(40) signed a two-year entry level deal, leaving University Of Minnesota-Duluth after leading the team in scoring and penalty minutes in his third season at the school.
His contract kicks in starting in 2014/2015 but no time has been wasted to get his legs wet as they send him to minor league affiliate Hershey Bears on an ato.
In his first game he connected for his first pro goal and assist.
For his encore he got the opening tally but in his third contest he received two minutes for holding and no points. There’s goes that average.
In three AHL games the totals rest (for the moment) at 2 goals, 1 assist for 3 points and a +3 rating.
All games were also important wins for the team.
The 6′ 194 lbs. 22-year old forward has been in the parent club’s training camps since his selection and will no doubt be fighting for a slot on the NHL roster in a fifth camp to officially start his rookie season.
Big 6’3″ 225 lbs. 7th year defenseman Tyson Strachan(5) has been signed to an NHL contract and played in big league games since his sophomore campaign.
He is currently under a one-year two-way deal with Washington Capitals and has one assist but has mostly been on reassignment with farm club Hershey Bears, where he serves as an assistant captain.
He’s never been exactly the biggest point production d-man scoring only one goal and 13 helpers in 132 big league contests.
His point totals are better in the minors.
This season in 49 AHL games he has a pair of markers with 15 assists, which could easily ascend to a career high by the end of 2013/2014.
He also has a remarkable +13 rating.
Through 264 games he’s potted 15 goals and 70 assists.
Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 5th round pick in the 2003 draft (#137 overall).
He signed his first entry level deal with St. Louis Blues after attending Ohio State University and played in their organization for 4 years before moving on to Florida Panthers for a couple of seasons.
No doubt the 29-year old is an asset to any team he joins and will likely continue where he is or score another big league contract elsewhere, unless he decides to move his game overseas for more money.
After attending training camp on an invite from parent club Washington Capitals, where he impressed, Hershey Bears‘ undrafted rookie left wing Nathan Walker(12) becomes the first Australian player to skate in an AHL game
It’s well documented that this is a guy that wants to debut for his country in the NHL.
At 5’11” 185 lbs. he’s not exactly the biggest power forward out there, but knows how to get into those open spaces for scoring chances and plays a hustle style.
In 35 games he’s potted 5 goals and 6 assists with a -1 rating and almost 2 shots on net per contest.
He’s most definitely had an interesting path to take him to Chocolatetown, first appearing in 4.5 years of junior level hockey in of all places the Czech Republic.
He also played two years of pro Czech Extraliga (another first) before joining USHL junior hockey Youngstown Phantoms for the last third of the regular season.
He was pretty much a point-per-game guy as you’d expect.
The only 20-year old forward also had a couple of super-young visits in the Australian pro AIHL.
By all means, the player originally born in the United Kingdom just might achieve his goal.
Former Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2004 draft, 8th year defenseman Jeff Schultz(55) is back in the AHL for the first time in half a dozen seasons.
For the last 7 seasons he skated all but one appearance in the NHL for 399 games scoring 11 goals and 64 assists with a mammoth +78 rating.
In 2009/2010 he was a league best +50 plus/minus.
The big big 6’6″ 225 lbs. blue liner was signed to a 4-year extension early into his restricted free agency status but was unable to sustain the numbers.
The Capitals decided to cut ties and elected to exercise their option to buy out the final season of his contract.
Soon afterwards, Los Angeles Kings stepped him offering him a one-way deal at just over the league minimum.
The 27-year old was a late cut, reassigned to minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs, where in 21 games he has a goal and an assist and is a +1.
Chances are good that he’ll live to skate his 400th game in the show but what happens next season is a total crap shot.
10th year center, former Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in the 2001 draft (#30 overall) center David Steckel(39) had to hang around for a little while before he found himself a deal for the 2013/2014 season.
He was invited to join Minnesota Wild training camp and eventually signed a pto to continue with their minor league affiliate Iowa Wild but was released after only 4 appearances.
Rumor has it he was fishing for a one-year, NHL deal and there was little room there for him to sign.
So, onto the next and he takes up Norfolk Admirals but inks an spc with the promise of signing with the parent club and team he last skated with, Anaheim Ducks.
He’s played 419 NHL games scoring 33 goals and 46 assists and lead the league in best faceoff percentage in 2010/2011, his last of 6 seasons with Washington Capitals.
The mammoth 6’6″ 215 lbs. forward is killer on the dot and it could be his ticket back to the show.
He scored a handsome two-way deal, was put on waivers and sent back to the AHL.
The 31-year old is a veteran of 219 games in the league with 56 goals, 60 assists and a pretty hefty +37 rating.
His last appearance in the A was Hershey Bears‘ deep playoff run in 2007.
It would be little surprise to see him leave for the KHL to finish out his pro career.